Paula T. Hammond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paula T. Hammond
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| Born | September 3, 1963 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Awards | Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (2021), Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (2019), Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering (2017), Fellow of the National Academy of Medicine (2016), Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (2016), Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2013) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, Cancer immunology |
| Institutions | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Thesis | The Synthesis, Characterization and Optical Properties of Novel Diacetylene-Containing Aromatic Liquid Crystalline Polymers (1993) |
| Doctoral advisor | Michael Rubner |
| Other academic advisors | George M. Whitesides |
| Doctoral students | Jodie Lutkenhaus LaShanda Korley |
Paula Therese Hammond (born September 3, 1963) is a top professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She is known for her amazing work in science and engineering. She was the first woman and person of color to lead the Chemical Engineering department at MIT.
Professor Hammond's team creates special materials called polymers and tiny nanoparticles. These are used to deliver medicines inside the body. They also work on new ideas for energy, like better batteries and fuel cells.
She has won many important awards for her research. She is a member of several highly respected groups, including the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Sciences.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Paula Therese Goodwin was born in 1963 in Detroit, Michigan. Her parents were also very smart. Her father had a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, and her mother had a master's degree in nursing.
Paula finished high school early in 1980. She then went to MIT and earned a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1984. After college, she worked for Motorola for two years. She helped with making computer chips.
She later went back to school and earned a master's degree in chemical engineering in 1988. Her master's project was about materials that could be used in robot sensors. In 1988, she returned to MIT to get her Ph.D. in chemical engineering, which she finished in 1993.
Amazing Discoveries and Career
In 1995, Professor Hammond became a professor at MIT. Her lab uses a special method called Layer by layer (LbL) assembly. This method builds very thin films by stacking different materials one on top of another. Imagine building a tiny sandwich, layer by layer!
Her team designs polymers and nanoparticles for many uses. These include delivering medicines, helping wounds heal, and creating new energy solutions.
Helping People with Medicine
Professor Hammond has created "stealth polymers." These polymers can hide cancer medicines inside tiny nanoparticles. This helps the medicine reach tumors without being noticed by the body's defenses.
She also works on how to get RNA into cells. RNA is like a messenger that tells cells what to do. By controlling RNA, scientists can help treat diseases like cancer.
Professor Hammond helped start MIT's Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology. This group works on using tiny technology to keep soldiers safe. As part of this, she designed a special spray. This spray helps blood clot quickly to stop bleeding.
She also developed LayerForm™️ technology. This builds drug delivery films with layers of medicine and polymers. In 2013, she helped start a company called LayerBio Inc. This company uses her technology to help with regenerative medicine, which helps the body repair itself.
New Ideas for Energy
Professor Hammond also works on making better materials for batteries and fuel cells. Her team develops thin films of carbon that can be used in these energy devices.
In 2009, she even showed her research on virus-based batteries to then-President Barack Obama. This shows how important and innovative her work is!
Awards and Recognitions
Professor Hammond has received many awards throughout her career. In 2013, she was chosen as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This is a very respected group.
She was also elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2016, the National Academy of Engineering in 2017, the National Academy of Sciences in 2019, and the National Academy of Inventors in 2021. Being part of these academies is a huge honor. It means she is recognized as one of the top scientists in the country.
In 2021, she was chosen to be part of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). This group advises the President of the United States on science and technology. In 2024, she received the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry. This award recognized her new ways of creating materials one layer at a time. It also honored her work in drug delivery and energy storage. She is also a recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
See also
In Spanish: Paula T. Hammond para niños
